Rating: 
Summary: Good collection, Bad DVD
Review: The dvd has a lot of flaws. But most visble one is in the episode the Naval treaty. The audio is totally out of sync. The video quality is poor through out. It is a shame that this dvd was even released.But i still give it five stars because it has a good collection of stories ( scandal in bohemia,Dancing men, Naval treaty and Solitary cyclist)
Rating:
Summary: 4 Stories for the Price of 1!
Review: This DVD contains the first four Sherlock Holmes stories staring Jeremy Brett. While this DVD may not be the top-quality kind you've come to expect, it's still well done and getting 4- episodes on one DVD for the price of one single-episode VHS more than makes up for that. There are 2 episodes per side of this DVD which is a small drawback but nothing major. Fans of Jeremy Brett's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes won't want to miss this.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT ACTING, POOR SOUND AND PICTURE
Review: I know that this dvd is a good bargan, 4 stories for a total of 3 1/4 hours. Only complaint the the picture quality and sound. I am not sorry I bought this dvd because of J. Brett and the rest of the fine cast. Let's hope the next installment is better.
Rating:
Summary: Elegant Stories Recapture a Long-Ago Era
Review: I've always been a die-hard Sherlockianne, and I recall gathering with friends each week in grad school in 1984-85, waiting to see which episode was next on PBS for Sherlock and the good Doctor. I've worn my father's old videos down, and am grateful the Brett versions are now on DVD for repeated viewing. If only more could come out quickly. Other reviewers have captured the magic of Brett's performances, especially in these 4 stories. But please, let me extol the virtues of David Burke's Watson. While Edward Hardwicke was pleasant enough, it was Burke that drew me into the adventures, as Watson was supposed to represent Doyle's audience--you the viewer. Burke's Watson is on to Holmes' game, and well conveys their long history together as housemates and co-adventurers, playing off Brett's brilliant characterization. "Scandal" best conveys this quality of partners in crime detection. "Scandal" I also believe is the best in the entire series, using music, setting,acting, disguise, and novel plot twists to magical effect--I never tire of watching even though we know how it all ends with "The Woman." Grab a disk, ring for supper from Mrs. Hudson, and try to solve these cases for yourself. There may be a nice reward--an excellent time.
Rating:
Summary: Authentic and satisfying. Highly recommended!
Review: The Granada series of Sherlock Holmes is among the most authentic and truthful portrayals of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Jeremy Brett *is* Sherlock Holmes and although I prefer Edward Hardwicke as Watson (The Return of Sherlock Holmes onwards), David Burke is still a fine Watson in these early episodes. This series retains a period feel without being overly weighed down in terms of pace and action. For the avid Sherlock Holmes reader, it is a treat to see the stories turned into action in such a satisfying manner.After years of trying to collect the complete series on video, I am delighted with this DVD offering, although the quality is only as good as the video version (but without the mould!). I hope that there would be future releases of the later episodes on DVD as well. I would certainly buy them.
Rating:
Summary: Technical glitches, but buy it anyway
Review: Jeremy Brett *is* Sherlock Holmes, and these four adventures represent the series at its best. Yes, the DVD does have some techincal glitches, but buy it anyway - it's a bargain at this price regardless, is still eminently watchable, and it's a sure bet we won't see further volumes if this one doesn't sell. So what are you waiting for?
Rating: 
Summary: Schlocked Sherlock
Review: I can add little to Thomas Burka's excellent review. The "Sherlock Holmes" series with Jeremy Brett is the most faithful adaptation of Doyle's stories ever committed to film. During their initial run here in the States on A&E, each new story was an eagerly anticipated event for many of us. Dialogues were often taken word-for-word from the written stories. Attention to detail was painstaking: look closely at every little item in Sherlock's digs at 221b Baker Street. The furniture, the barometer, microscope, inkwell, oil lamps, mantel clock... all are Victorian antiques from the 1880s and 90s. The clothes, the street signs, the doorways, the Hansom cabs... perfect. And of course, the main reason we all tuned in so faithfully was to watch the greatest interpretator of the Master Detective ever: Jeremy Brett. In fact, ALL the characters were brought to life in a way never done before. So much for the praise of the ORIGINAL, televised stories. As Burka has amply noted, the quality of the transfer to DVD is nearly criminal, or at least a mystery. The visual image often looks like a badly-taped VHS copy. But it is the sound quality that is nearly unbearable, especially during the wonderful music that accompanies these stories. It staggers and wobbles like something on a cheap 3-inch reel-to-reel tape recorder from the 1960s. I sincerely hope that, as more of these incredible stories are made available on DVD, the producers of this enterprise will be more concerned with the quality of the final product.
Rating:
Summary: Essential Holmes
Review: Jeremy Brett was the best-ever screen Holmes and the scripts and production on these stories from the original canon were always first rate. There are no bonuses on this DVD, but the episodes are great enough to merit buying the disk anyway. Hopefully there are more episodes coming!
Rating:
Summary: Basil who?
Review: Jeremy Brett, although tragically passed on, will always be the one and only, living, breathing, Sherlock Holmes. NO ONE in my recollection, including Basil Rathbone, has ever completely embodied himself in Sherlock Holmes' id as Mr. Brett. Every look, pose, phrasing, and disguise was faithfully and superbly interpreted by the enormously talented Brett. It's a shame that Mr. Brett was so excellent, because David Burke as Watson, was nearly equal in his portrayal of the loyal gentleman Doctor Watson. If you have ever enjoyed reading a Holmes story, make sure to see this DVD. Everything about the sets, acting, and dialogue is as perfect as can be. However, as other people have noted, there is an issue with audio and video quality which should not have been present on DVD form, but we cannot allow that to quell the pure artistic genius of this production. These are 4 excellent Holmes stories which all should enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Start
Review: The video portion of the DVD is excellent. It contains many scenes which were included in the PBS airing and left out of the A&E airing, most likely to add commercial time. This is sad, because some of the scenes A&E cut are necessary for good continuity. Now I know why the A&E series seemed a bit jumpy. Unfortunately (and you knew this was coming), the digitization process somehow ruined the music. It sounds like digital wow/flutter. It had to have occurred during the "digital" transfer because my off-air video tapes are OK. It is especially noticable in the violin music at the beginning of each story . The spoken dialog is OK because the digitizing effect is less noticable. On the bonus sections of the DVD, the sound is superb, so it is only in the actual program that it appears to be flawed. For this reason, I do not think it is only my copy that has this technical glitch. One of the best parts of the DVD is in the bonus section - it is the original Granada promo for the series, and it contains clips from many more of the shows than the four on the DVD. It stands as a wonderful tribute to Jeremy Brett, who moved on much too soon, IMHO. With the exception of the audio problem, the Granada production values are superb and I consider this series the epitome, to date, of the Holmes canon on TV, DVD, tape or film. Granada has captured the Sherlockian era and genre to perfection.
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